Hounded during the opener and then harassed again on Sunday during the early going, Jay Cutler just wanted some redemption. Finally he got it and was able to live up to the lofty billing of his.

Cutler connected with Devin Hester on a big pass, and a field goal of 44 yards was booted by Robbie Gould with only 15 seconds remaining to give Chicago a 17-14 win over Pittsburgh.

Mid fourth quarter Cutler connected with Johnny Knox, rookie, on the tying touchdown. Jeff Reed then missed a 43 yard field goal, his second miss that quarter. Cutler then helped to set the winning kick of Gould’s up with a pass of 5 yards to Hester at Pittsburgh’s 39 yard line on third down and 4 to keep their winning drive alive.

Cutler said, I am always hoping to get the chance. I am always thinking we are going to get the opportunity whether it is 3 minutes or 30 seconds. I just want to have a shot.

The teams were both playing without their defensive stars. Brian Urlacher of Chicago is out for the remainder of the season due to his right wrist being dislocated, while Troy Polamalu of the the Steelers will miss three to six weeks due to a medial collateral ligament tear on his left knee. In addition, Chicago saw Alex Brown, defensive end, having to be helped from the field after spraining his left ankle with approximately four minutes left to play after he had two sacks in the game.

However, on a very rainy afternoon Cutler was able to deliver like a star, despite receiving plenty of pressure and having several of his passes dropped. In spite of it all, Cutler’s first home game for Chicago (1-1) was a lot better than his debut with the team.

Cutler had 236 yards passing along with two touchdowns and no interceptions, following his career high four interceptions during the Bears season opening loss in Green Bay. The rookie Knox was also impressive. He caught six passes for a total of 70 receiving yards.

It was enough for the Bears to defeat the defending Super Bowl champs and offset the solid performances of Santonio Holmes and Ben Roethlisberger.

Mike Tomlin, Steelers coach said, he made good decisions while facing pressure and put the ball into good locations. They converted on their third downs. We didn’t do enough to win and they did. We accept the responsibility.

Roethlisberger had 221 passing yards, while Holmes had five catches for a total of 83 receiving yards. Yet it was the problems of Reed during the fourth quarter that gave Chicago the opportunity that they needed.

Reed said, I am embarrassed. The guys fought off their tails to win this game. If there is just one player who can lose the game single handedly, then I will take credit for that.

Pittsburgh wasn’t going to do that.

Holmes said, we aren’t concerned about Jeff.

Midway third quarter Roethlisberger provided Pittsburgh (1-1) with a lead of 14-7 with his running touchdown from the 2 yard line, as he lept over Danieal Manning, following a run of 39 yards by Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois product and Skokie native. During the fourth quarter, after he had hit the game winner versus Tennessee in overtime, Reed miss a field goal attempt from 38 yards that would have cut the lead down to 10 points.

Chicago responded quickly.

Cutler, who arrived in Chicago via a trade with the Broncos and sent expectations in the Windy City soaring, connected with Greg Olsen, tight end, on a pass of 29 yards to move the football down to Pittsburgh’s 23 yard line. He then completed the drive on a 7 yard pass to Knox, who was able to beat Tyrone Carter, the replacement for Polamalu, to tie the game at 14 with only 6:21 left to play.

The field was re-sodded and had large seams after the previous weekend had seen two U2 concerts played there back to back. The short turnaround saw a familiar tune being sung by Bears players about the stadium’s surface. The stadium is owned and operated by Chicago Parks District.

When Olsen slipped as he attempted to catch the ball inside the end zone during the second quarter on the rain slicked field, a noticeable groan was heard from the crowd. However moments later a roar was heard from the crowd when Kellen Davis scored on a pass of 6 yards from Cutler, tying the game at 7 with only 19 seconds remaining before halftime. The biggest cheers, of course, came in the end.

Gould said, you don’t think about missing a kick. When you do, you will miss the kick.